Leeds United manager Thomas Christiansen has revealed Ouasim Bouy could yet play a first-team role in the remainder of 2017/18 after deciding to keep the Dutchman on transfer deadline day.

Christiansen had suggested in the build-up to the FA Cup third-round defeat at Newport County that Bouy would require a second loan spell having returned to Leeds from an inauspicious stint at Cultural Leonesa in the first half of the season.

But his anticipated exit did not arrive in the January transfer window and Bouy will now form part of the first-team squad, with Christiansen revealing he had held conversations with the player about his future in the build-up to the Cardiff City fixture.

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"No, no," he said when asked if the current suspensions and injuries had resulted in Bouy staying.

"I took the decision, I had a speak with him.

"He decided to stay, to have an opportunity, even if it's a small opportunity to stay, I like very much how he trains, he adds to the team and this is the most important.

"His desire and he's a good player, perhaps in one situation he gets the opportunity to play and will not leave the position, you never know.

Ouasim Bouy may get the unlikeliest of reprieves at Leeds United (Image: Leeds United)

"But the most important is you have a player who is not staying here because there's no other possibility.

"He could have had possibility to go out but it was his willness to try to stay and have an opportunity in the team."

Bouy made just four appearances for Leonesa during his ill-fated loan in Spain but with Conor Shaughnessy ruled out for several weeks and Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips and Eunan O'Kane all still out through suspension, he may earn his chance.